Christmas in America: The Delaware Crossing, 1776

This is a copy of an email that one of the Patriots of The Central Ohio 9/12 Project sent out.  I have gratuitously copied and pasted it here:

While Americans in the Year of Our Lord 2009 enjoy the Christmas holiday in their warm homes, snuggled around a glowing hearth, partaking of festive cheer, let us drift back to another band of Americans past who, foregoing such luxuries--though to be sure they longed for them--, chose instead to endure hardship as soldiers, and to prosecute an assault on Trenton, New Jersey on--of all nights--Christmas night, 1776. 

The American cause throughout the War of Independence seemed perpetually on the brink of defeat. The odds and obstacles stacked against this fledging outbreak of liberty appeared to preclude its victory, much less its survival for any length of time. It was but a flickering flame about to be snuffed out not long after it had been lit. Such was the case in the winter of 1776. It was only a few months since independence had been declared, and the fire of liberty was but a smoldering ember nearly extinguished, but for one man....

The General had led his rag-tag band of soldiers on a long retreat across New Jersey after the fall of Fort Lee and Fort Washington. Now only the great Delaware River stood between what was left of the dwindling American forces and the British enemy in hot pursuit along with their hired companies of Hessian mercenaries. And soon it would freeze over, and their doom would be sealed. At the turn of the year most of the soldiers' enlistments would expire, and the prevailing mood was that this fight was all but over. Washington knew that something had to be done; a bold stroke was needed--a daring stroke, a desperate stroke. Some of his officers shared his sentiments, but it was Washington's singular resolve that saw the plan through in the face of great difficulty. They would cross back over the Delaware and attempt to take Trenton.

The sole source of Washington's confidence in such a move came from God. On December 14, while pondering a venture of some sort, he wrote that they might "under the smiles of Providence, effect an important stroke." Why not just concede to the mightier force? In the face of such difficulties, why not sue for peace? Life under British rule was not so intolerable after all, was it? Morale was low. This rabble of an army was without needed supplies, and the onset of winter was well upon them. Even the enemy knew of their dire circumstances. One British officer observed that during their retreat across the countryside "many of the Rebels who were killed in the late affairs, were without shoes or stockings, and several were observed to have only linen drawers on, with a rifle or hunting shirt, without any proper shirt or waistcoat. They are also in great want of blankets.... in less than a month they must suffer extremely." One would think at Christmas time these soldiers would desire a little warmth, a little comfort, and a little peace. After all, is not Christmas the time for "Peace on earth, good will toward men?" But this General had a river to cross!

What kind of a man was Washington, and what kind of men would follow him on such a mission, enduring such privation and suffering. George Washington, at the core of this hero of a man, was a humble and devout Christian, who exhorted his troops to put away vice and practice the Christian virtues. He admonished, "To the distinguished character of a Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of a Christian." And what of the men who fought for American independence:

We regard our civil and religious principles to be the sweetest and essential part of our lives, without which the remainder is scarcely worth preserving. (Declaration of the townspeople of Chatham, Massachusetts)

If an army should be sent to reduce us to slavery, we will put our lives in our hands and cry to the Judge of all the earth.... Behold--how they come to cast us out of this possession, which Thou hast given us to inherit. Help us, Lord, our God, for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go against this multitude. (Boston Gazette)

Death is more eligible than slavery. A free-born people are not required by the religion of Jesus Christ to submit to tyranny, but may make use of such power as God has given them to recover and support their laws and liberties.... [We] implore the Ruler above the skies that He would make bare His arm in defense of His church and people, and let Israel go. (Declaration of the men of Marlborough, Massachusetts)

These men served the true God. To them Christmas meant "Christ the Savior is born." They acknowledged that "Christ is born of Mary," paying homage to the lowly Child born in a humble stable beneath a serene and starry sky. But they also recognized the stark, lurking reality of Evil, that just as that great antichrist Herod slew the children in order to snuff out the life of the Babe and to crush the life and liberty that He would bring to the world, so also these Americans faced their own tyrant, their own antichrist. And what was their response? The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay, John Hancock presiding, declared, "Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual.... Continue steadfast, and with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us."

They crossed the raging river that night, in the cold driving snow and hail. When one of his generals sought to discourage the attack because their muskets were wet, Washington replied, "Tell General Sullivan to use the bayonet. I am resolved to take Trenton." About 8 a.m. they finally reached the enemy post, and engaged the Hessian troops, which were completely surprised. After about an hour of fierce fighting they surrendered to the American forces. This victory infused new life into the American cause, and was one of a string of pivotal and essential turnabouts during the war without which the history of America would have taken a vastly different course. Summing up the taking of Trenton, Sir George Trevelyan observed, "This was a long and severe ordeal, and yet it may be doubted whether so small a number of men ever employed so short a space of time with greater or more lasting results upon the history of the world."

The Americans themselves acknowledged the hand of God in the whole drama. Henry Knox, one of Washington's officers credited Divine intervention, recording, "Providence seemed to have smiled upon every part of this enterprise." Some of the instances of Providential aid are the following:

>The availability of the Durham boats and the presence of John Glover and his Marbleheaders, expert oarsmen who ferried Washington and his army not once, not twice, but three times across the Delaware.

>The inclement weather conditions, which provided cover for the offensive, decreasing visibility so as to conceal their movements, and diminishing the expectation of any attack in the minds of their enemies.

>A strange early attack and the delay of the Americans made the attack a complete surprise. The Hessian commander actually had intelligence of a possible attack, so that there was a detail put on alert. But somewhat early on Christmas night a mysterious band of ruffians emerged from the woods, exchanged one volley with the Hessian guards, and turned tail and ran back into the woods. The Hessian commander mistakenly considered this the pathetic attempt of the Americans at an attack of which he was warned. After this, he permitted his men to stand down and join the Christmas festivities. When the actual Colonial forces arrived in the morning, a sound sleep had fallen on them all. No one knows to this day who the early assailants were.

>The American troops suffered no casualties in the attack, except for two men who succumbed to the elements during the long march through the night from the River bank up to Trenton.

>The Americans acquired provisions, supplies, powder, clothing and blankets from their capture of Trenton, all which they desperately needed for survival.

>The uncanny but consistent delays on the part of the British Generals in pressing their advantage and pursuing the American Army, allowed Washington to escape once again, quickly abandoning Trenton and crossing the Delaware back into Pennsylvania just in advance of British reinforcements.

Washington himself, in this and in every episode of the war, would acknowledge God's handiwork in favoring the American cause: "The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked that has not gratitude to acknowledge his obligations." Indeed our forefathers were thankful, though they had many more hardships to endure; yet they would see many more “instances of a superintending Providence in [their] favor,” as Benjamin Franklin would recall years later.

This Christmas may we "cross the river" with our General, and enter that arena of conflict which every courageous and free man must endure. May we return to the God of our fathers who declared they would have "No king but king Jesus!" And with the signers of the Declaration (as Samuel Adams exclaimed at its adoption) might we profess that "We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and ... from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come." Then shall we earnestly sing of the birth of the Savior of Mankind,
"Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing."

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12)

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas in America!

Question: Can you identify the soldier in the front of the boat ( in the painting pictured at the top of this post)?
Answer: http://www.wallbuilders.com/resources/Newsletters/BlackHistory04.pdf (page 9)